Does Fashion Help Create The Next Big Pop Star?

The music scene, a topic that’s always on the forefront of daily news, is a constant in people's lives. With millions of musicians releasing songs daily, the question of how to stand out and be memorable in the public eye comes to mind. How does a musician go from start to global superstar? This is where fashion, a significant player in the music industry, can lend a crucial role in shaping musicians' identities and public perception.

 Think of fashion as similar to packaging or an outer shell of people that helps the audience know a person's character through wearing the styles they like or project. The same goes with people in the music industry, except more on a large scale since they are public figures selling their art. An artist's fashion can be a reflection of their music. Through the looks they wear, they can attract and reach people who don't listen to music, which combines the power of music and art. In the context of music, there are two types of fashion: the follower of trends, who adopts popular styles and trends, and the innovator, who creates new and unique styles that others may follow. Think what David Bowie or ABBA were at their times.

With the endless trends popping out on social media platforms every day, it is inevitable for artists to fall into the trap of not having a style personality. Apart from great music, this helps them be remembered, identified even. The consistency of a musician's branding is the key for the public to continue talking about you.

Being memorable and standing out from the many musicians of the world is an artist's common goal. Branding, a well-known strategy marketing teams use to achieve this goal and push their product into the public eye, is also a powerful tool for musicians. They use branding to change their concept through every album and/or even collaborate their fashion on their identity or whole discography. A great example of an artist using her albums to change their entire concept is Taylor Swift, from her albums Fearless to Reputation to Lover. They all have very different concepts but point to who Taylor is as a musician. Melanie Martinez is an artist who integrates fashion with their whole discography and combines the storytelling of her characters, such as Cry Baby.

Artists with solid branding are the most unforgettable musicians. Even from their silhouettes, you can tell who it is. From The Beatles hairstyles, Michael Jackson's glittery and striking outfits, Ariana Grande's ponytail, to Billie Eilish's baggy style. Here are some rising artists whose conceptual identity stands out among the artists today.

Article by Catriona Guerrero